Shell.



Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Tm m H S N A V E L v A 4 1 9 1 2 1 B N U J D E L I P N 0 I T A U I L P P A n M m "I: NORRIS PETERS CO. PIFIOTGJJTHON WASHINGTON, D. C.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICES A. H. LE VAN.

SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n45 NORRIS PEIERS (:0.. PHOTO LI n10 WASHINGTON. D. c,

12.. AMMUNI'HUN AM) I transverse to the section in EXPLOSIVE DEVICES AARON H. LE VAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial N 0. 844,713.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON H. Ln VAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to explosive shells or projectiles, and as its primary object contemplates a shell structure such in its nature as to ignite, when exploded, all inflammable material coming in contact with the scattered portions of the shell.

The invention, as a further object aims to provide a shell or projectile so constructed or divided as to form therein a plurality of communicating compartments; powder or the like being stored in one of the compartments, and cotton, saturated with kerosene, gun cotton or the like (rolled in balls), being stored in the remaining compartments, the communicating ports or vents providing for ignition of the latter which, by reason of its highly volatile nature, will cause in effect, a powerful simultaneous or double explosion, and a wide scattering of the ignited or flaming material in all directions.

As a still further object, the invention resides in the provision of a shell wherein the cap is so arranged relatively to the powder chamber as to cause the powder to e ignited subsequently to the firing of the shell, the fuse of the desired burning capacity being utilized as a timing medium.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of. this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a shell or projectile constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 1s a similar view, the section being taken Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating the formation of the several shell chambers; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in detail one of the filler plugs employed in connection with the invention; and Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the plugs, a portion of the shell adjacent thereto being shown.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates as an entirety, the shell or projectile, the same being provided at it apex end with a powder chamber 2, said chamber 2, as shown to advantage in Fig. 1, being open to smaller chambers designated respectively 3 and 4 formed in the body of the shell, the ports 5 which communicate with the respective chambers being comparatively small and, like the compartments 2 filled with powder or the like. The cap 6 of the shell is in line with its longitudinal axis and is of a construction or formation common to the art, the said cap extending into a longitudinal bore 7 communicant with the powder chamber and filled with powder as shown. Transverse ports 8 connect the bore 7 with the respective chambers 3 and 4, the said ports being preferably disposed at a point adjacent the cap 6 and filled with powder of a slower burning capacity than the powder within bore 7. The powder within bore 7 and the respective ports 5 and 8 serve as the fuse whereby the timing of the explosion to take effect subequent to the explosion of the firing of the shell is controlled.

As shown to advantage in Fig. 1, chambers 3 and 4 are each filled with balls of cotton 9 saturated with gasolene or the like volatile fluid, gun cotton or some similar inflammable volatile substance, the balls being arranged in layers as shown, powder or the like being filled in between the several layers. If desired, Cayenne pepper may be forced into the compartments 3 and 4 during the construction of the shell. Openings 10, preferably threaded, are formed in the shell 1, said openings providing for a filling of the several compartments, and, when filled,

being closed by a filler plug designated 11.

When in use, the shell or projectile is fired or projected in a manner common to the art, the firing causing fuse in bore 7 to be ignited and, by reason of its length, causing the powder in chamber 2 to be subsequently fired. As the powder in chamber 2 is fired, the flame is forced back through ports 5 into chambers 3 and 4 causing the substances packed therein to be ignited and the explosion necessary to the bursting of the shell to take effect. As the explosion takes place, the balls of. inflammable material are scattered broadcast in all directions, thereby firing of the contents of the said compartments 3 and t will not take place in advance of the burning of the powder in compartment 2; and that the contents of. the compartments-3 and 4 by reason of the confinement, will explode either simultaneously or otherwise causing the balls of gun cotton or the like to be scattered broadcast or in all directions;

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred toin the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most e cient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that-various 'minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacri ficing any of the advantages of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is

p l. A shell including a body portion having a powder chamber formed therein, said body portion also having a plurality of smaller compartments formed. therein, the said smaller compartments containing inflammable and explosive material, that portion of the said body between the smaller compartments being longitudinally bored and filled with powder, the bore, intermediate its ends, being open to the respective small compartments, and the compartments, it one end, being open to the powder cham- 2. A shell including a body portion hol low at one end, the chamber formed in the hollow end of the said body being filled with powder, a plurality of comparatively small chambers formed in the opposite end of the said shell, the said chambers being in communication with the said powder chamber,

the smaller chambers being filled with an explosive inflammable material, that portion of the body between the said chambers being longitudinally bored, the bore opening into the said powder chamber, the said longitudinal bore being open to a second bore extending transversely thereof and opening into the respective smaller chambers, the said two bores each containing a fuse, a cap at one end of the longitudinal bore, and means removable relatively to said body to provide for a filling of the several chambers, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON H. LE VAN. Witnesses:

CLAUDE MYERS, GEO. S. MYERS.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

